The government attacks the IIGEP of “exceeding its mandate”. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) alleges that the evidence from the case of 17 murdered aid workers may have been tampered with, calling on the government to launch a new investigation into the killings.
Sources
Lanka slams Indian-led international panel over rights charges, The Hindu, 24 June 2007; Evidence in aid worker massacre in Sri Lanka may be missing: jurist group, International Herald Tribune, 25 June 2007.
Quotations
“In the view of the Government of Sri Lanka, the IIGEP has exceeded its mandate indirectly proposing to the government that an international human rights monitoring mechanism be established or invited to Sri Lanka”. C.R. De Silva, Attorney General, 24 June 2007
“There is, therefore, evidence to indicate that the 5.56 caliber bullet was removed from the evidence submitted as exhibits to the Kantale magistrate, and that another bullet of a different type was substituted. Given this new information, the ICJ is calling for the president of Sri Lanka to order renewed, impartial and thorough investigations into the killing of the 17 aid workers … and to ensure those responsible are prosecuted”. Statement of the International Commission of Jurists, 25 June 2007
Responding to the criticism of the IIGEP, the Attorney General’s office argues that the statements of the IIGEP were “inappropriate” and suggested it stays to its mandate to only “make observations and recommendations”.
Related events
6 November 2006
11 June 2007
6 March 2008
